Connie Ryan of the Iowa Interfaith Alliance, left, speaks at an Iowa House subcommittee meeting against a bill allowing religious chaplains in public schools on Feb. 25, 2025, as Mortimer Adramelech, a “minister of Satan” listens. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Public schools could engage religious chaplains under a bill that Republican lawmakers advanced out of an Iowa House subcommittee on Tuesday.
House File 334 would allow public school districts and charter schools to hire chaplains or allow them on a volunteer basis to provide “services” to students and staff. A similar bill moved out of subcommittees in the House and Senate last year but did not receive committee consideration.
Representatives of public schools, social workers and several religious faiths opposed the bill at Tuesday’s subcommittee meeting. Most cited concerns about a lack of any guidance or limits in the bill on what chaplains would be allowed to do in a school and the bill’s silence on any requirements for training, certification or licensure.
Rev. Brigit Stevens of the United Church of Christ said she’s served as a chaplain for police, sheriff and fire departments as well as a denominational executive. “I’m pro-chaplain,” she said. But, she said, she opposes the bill because of its lack of requirements for training and accountability.
“Children are already vulnerable, and I do not want, as a parent, unvetted, uncredentialed, untrained, unaccountable access to my kids by folks calling themselves chaplains,” she said. “… This bill is dangerous in that it doesn’t require that kind of backing up, authority, accountability, training and vetting.”
Opponents also objected to the lack of a requirement that a chaplain be a mandatory reporter for abuse.
Another speaker, who identified himself as Mortimer Adramelech, a minister of Satan, who also spoke at last year’s hearing, said he continues to oppose the bill because of concern that religious programs are not appropriate for public schools. “Religious services and programs should take place in religious institutions, not public ones,” he said.
But, he added, “I would like to remind you all that if this bill passes, highly qualified Satanic Temple ministers are ready and available to serve as chaplains in public schools.”
Advocates of the bill, however, argued that chaplains would contribute to school safety.
Greg Baker, a lobbyist for the Family Leader, a Christian organization, noted the widespread use of chaplains by first responders and said he views schools these days as “first responding” locations. “Teachers are often the front lines in our community, so I think it makes sense to offer this service also in schools,” he said.
Johnny Davis, chief development officer with the National School Chaplain Association, said certified chaplains “make schools safer,” by providing preventative care and allowing individuals to “unburden” themselves before a tragedy such as a school shooting can occur.
He argued that there are no Satanic chaplains working in any institution in the U.S.
Rep. Helena Hayes, R-New Sharon, said she was happy to hear that. She defended the bill’s lack of requirements for training or certification by saying it’s a form of local control, and it would be up to school boards to decide on qualifications.
“The bill doesn’t say you have to allow anybody off the street, as assigned by the school board. And those people are elected. We all know that they answer to the voters. If they’re not pleased, the school’s gonna know.”
She and bill sponsor Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla, R-Pella, supported the bill, which bill moves next to the House Education Committee. Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, did not support the bill.